nichols



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. E. NICHOLS. ELECTRIC CEILING BLOCK.

No. 437,789. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

A. E. NICHOLS. ELECTRIC CEILING BLOCK.

No. 437,789. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE.

ALBERT EDiVARD NICHOLS, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC CEILING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,789, dated October '7, 1890.

Application filed March 25, 1890. Serial No. 345,283. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALBERT EDWARD NICH- OLS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 43 Reginald Terrace, in Leeds, in the county of York, in England, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Electric- Lamp Couplers or Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in holders or couplers so arranged as to facilitate the raising and lowering of electric lamps when fixed in such position as to render such movements necessary, to do away with the necessity for the usual slack cable in the main leads and the balance-weights usually employed. I attain these objects by the mech anism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan, half in section; Fig. 2, an elevation, half in section; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of an alternative arrangement. Fig. 4 shows an arc lamp arranged in the old way with the slack in the main leads. Fig. 5 represents the improved method of raising and lowering. Fig. 6 shows amode of constructing contactsprings. Figs. 7 to 10 show a modification. Fig. '7 is a part plan view; Fig. 8, a side view, partly in section; Fig. 9, a plan view of part b; and Fig. 10, a detail view of one of the contact-springs. Fig. 11 is a side view of the short-circuiting device.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,the coupler consists of two separate parts a and Z), of which the part a is intended to be fixed to the ceiling or othersuitable place by means of screws 0. It is composed of some insulating materialsuch as slate, porcelain, earthenware, or vulcanite fiber-and is provided internally with two metal rings d and d, which are entirely separated from one another by the insulating-ring The ring (I is in electrical connection with the terminal 6, and the ring (1 in electrical connection with the terminal 6. The main electrical leads are attached to e and e. The part b is formed of some insulating material, and is provided with two metal rings g and g. On the ring g are fixed three contact-springs 72, and similarly onto g are fixed three contact-springs h. The ring 9 is in electrical connection with the terminal k by means of the wire j, and the ring g is in electrical connection with the terminal at by means of the wire j. Another terminal Z is provided, and between in and Z a safety-fuse is fixed which can thus easily be replaced. The lamp itself is connected to the terminals Z and m by the leads a and a. Down the center or" 1) passes a cord 0, which is intended to be carried over a pulley p and down to some place within reach of the hand, as shown in Fig. 5, where it is secured.

Vhen it is required to lower the lamp, the cord 0 is paid outand the weight of the lamp causes the plug-shaped part b of the coupler to descend from the part a, thus breaking the circuit for the current and extinguishing the lamp. \Vhen the lamp is readjusted, it may be raised again to its proper place by pulling the cord 0, when the part b will re-enter part a and so make contact and light the lamp.

In Fig. 3 the coupler is arranged differently, so as to be flatter, but the same end is attained.

Fig. 4 shows the old method of lowering and raising. position. a" is its lowered position for adjustment. The slack in the cable is then necessary.

Fig. 5 shows the improved method. .9 is the lamp in its usual position. .5" shows a similar lamp when lowered. q is any arrangement by which a pulley p can be used for the cord 0.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative method of making the contact-springs h, here formed of several thin metal plates.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 show another form of coupler for effecting the same result. Fig. '7 is a half plan, half external of the part 1), half in ternal of the inner face of a. Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section; Fig. 9, a plan of the inner face of b, and Fig. 10 an elevation of the contactsprings h. b is a flat piece of slate or other suitable non-conductor, upon which are fixed the metal rings g and g, as before provided with contact-springs h h. Ring g is connected electrically to terminal Zby connection j and ring g to terminal 771. by connection j. The part a is of slate or other suitable nonconductor, and has two grooves, in which are fitted the two metal rings cl and d, to which are attached the main 0' shows the lamp in its usuallead terminals e and e. A metal tube usurrounds the cord 0 and acts as a guide for the part b when being drawn into position.

Fig. 11 shows an arrangement for short-circuiting the rings 01 and 61 when the part b is lowered, and is specially for use with are lamps in series. The springx presses to down and makes cont-act at o and so with e, e is in electrical connection with ring d, and the part wis in electrical connection with ring 01', so that when one lamp is lowered a current can still flow to the remaining lamps in series.

cured to the said part and connected, respectively, with the terminals e and e for the linewire, of the movable part 1), provided with insulated rings 9 and g, the terminals Z and m, for the lamp-wires, secured to the said part b and connected, respectively, with the said rings g and g, the terminal 70, secured to the said part b and directly connected to the ring 9, a safety-fuse connecting the said terminals 70 and -Z,the springs h and h, respectively secured to the rings g and g and adapted to bear against the rings d d, and the supportingcord 0, centrally secured to the said part b,

' substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALBERT EDWARD NICHOLS. Witnesses:

WALTER L. FIELDHOUSE, HUGH NETTLETON. 

